Med School Pre-Application Interview with Admissions

[Julzster]

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Hi,

I am new to SDN. I am a 38 yo wife (12 yrs) and mom (to a toddler) currently taking the Allopathic Med School pre-Reqs at a local university. I have a low uGPA from the late 1990's when I got a B.S. in Business Management, with no sciences until now. I did receive scholarships to college, but some life events and several full & part-time jobs during college negatively affected my GPA (2.5). The GPA trend over the undergrad years were upward trending with Dean's list awards the last year. Currently a 4.0 GPA (this is my first semester back). I anticipate a 4.0 for all post-bacc courses, which encompases all of the sciences. My projected cGPA is 3.0 after PB work is completed and a 4.0 sGPA. I plan to take the MCAT late next year/early spring 2013 after finishing almost all of the pre-reqs.

I have heeded the advice of some on this board and made appointments with the med school admission offices regarding the probabilities of me personally getting into their schools. If anyone has had an interview like this, could you please tell me what data/evidence (other than a transcript) did you use to present your portfolio for them to analyze? What other things did you discuss with them? I plan to present myself with a brief explanation of why med school, & why now history, current and projected transcript, proof of capability to perform based on HS honors and awards & EC activities, as well as career recognition/awards (quick movement up the ladder, enterprise-level resource for my field, jobs created for me, etc.) to show the undergrad years as not indicative of my capabilities. I only have 20-30 minutes. Can anyone else give me any advice on what should be presented? (One school is a public state school and the other is a private school).

Thank you very much in advance for all your replies!

Julz

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

DO requirements are basically the same. William Carey could be a good option for you as well. At any rate, I met with people from a DO school and I spoke with people from my state school about my situation, and it was no big deal. When I met in person with the DO school I dressed nicely, but didn't have to provide any info, I just gave them the run down of what I did and what I am doing, and they thought I would be fine. Since you're meeting in person, bring with unofficial copies and any other pertinent info (like your awards, etc) and keep it in a professional folder. You may not need to show it, or they may want to see it. Don't sweat it, just treat it like a professional, but informal meeting (if that makes sense)... You want them to like you because they may remember you 😉

 

[FrkyBgStok]

When I went to my local school, I had the same intentions and within the first minute I knew I was way over prepared. Just go in with your stuff, but if you do a mock interview, they might get turned off. Basically go in and say, "this is my dream school, based on my information, what can I do to be the most competitive applicant possible." Let the conversation go from there.

 

[NontradICUdoc]

consider going to the upcoming non traditional conference, it is in Last Vegas in June. there is a sticky about it on top of the page.

 

[Julzster]

Thank you all for your advice!

I completed my first advising session today, and it was just as you said; very informal. I took your advice and went with the flow. Amazing relief when I was told that they (state school) would consider my PB GPA independently from my undergrad grades in the 1990's! They do not have a screen that filters applicants out, either, so no catch there. My advisor was really very nice and put me at ease. I am truly encouraged after our meeting.

I did very seriously consider the conference in Las Vegas, but I am taking classes over the summer and I would miss a few classes to fly out there and finally decided that I didn't want to risk that. Some professors can be funny about absences.

Thank you all, again!

Julz

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

YAY! Glad you're feeling better. My state school said the same thing, that looooong absences can help more than people think, but we're not applying to Harvard or Hopkins.... Either way, best of luck to you!!!

 

[ruraldocmom]

I think it also depends on who you are meeting with at the school. I made an appointment to meet with someone in admissions and I ended up talking to a young guy, who basically looked at the numbers (not anything else) and gave me a pat answer--don't apply until your numbers are higher (but in cagey, you can apply if you want kind of way).

When I actually interviewed, the interviewer said, your numbers were high enough, why didn't you apply earlier? Great...

Point is, I wish I hadn't wasted my time and travel money talking to that guy--could have figured that out on the phone. Or, I should have made an appointment with someone who knew a little more about what the committee, and not him personally, thought about things. Oh, well. Hindsight. I feel like maybe the school-specific discussions on SDN might give you a better overall picture of who really gets in. Assuming of course, everyone posts their real scores (convincing nod, everyone).

Awesome work on the GPA, BTW. That is impressive.

 

[Leader813]

YAY! Glad you're feeling better. My state school said the same thing, that looooong absences can help more than people think, but we're not applying to Harvard or Hopkins.... Either way, best of luck to you!!!

Buuuut, what if you are planning to apply to Harvard or Hopkins? Do you not think these are good places to apply for nontrads?